Rockets hold off Nuggets 110-100 despite Murray's 38

The Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 110-100 at Toyota Center and moved to 8-3. Denver fell to 5-4. The Rockets answered every Nuggets push in the fourth quarter and kept the lead at eight or more over the final minutes.

Jamal Murray was the player of the game with 38 points and 2 rebounds, and a Chirp Rating of 9.2. Nikola Jokic added 16 rebounds and 8 assists. Kevin Durant led Houston with 23 points, 8 assists and 12 rebounds. Houston won the first quarter 32-24, and Denver won the third 28-23 and the fourth 32-33 only on paper, as the margin held.

The late scoring started with a Fred VanVleet three that made it 96-87 with 5:34 left. Alperen Sengun and Amen Thompson pushed it to 100-90. After Jokic and Murray cut into it, Jabari Smith Jr. hit a three for 103-92 and VanVleet hit another from 27 feet for 106-96. Sengun's jumper made it 108-98, and Bryce Hopkins closed it at 110-100.

Chirp's Sim had the Rockets at 62% before the game.